Saturday 27thOctober 2012
5:30pm ko Live on ESPN
Referee: Martin Atkinson
“Losing is part of the game. Giving up isn’t” – Vincent Kompany
Aguero’s first touch for City[/center]
I’ll start straight away by admitting, for the first time in a couple of years, I didn’t watch last weeks game at West Brom as I feared that with United kicking off at the same time there’d be a futile effort of trying to find a pub showing the game; and then we’d be forced to share the pub with our red cousins then suffer through 90 minutes of a baying, pissed up mob more interested in our game than their own. Instead I turned out at Atherton Collieries v Cheadle Town in the North West Counties Second Divison resorting to listening to updates from my mate, as he gleefully told me that Balotelli had been booked, Milner sent off and Shane Long scoring. Fortunately there were a few blues in attendance and as news of a Dzeko equaliser filtered through, attention was diverted away from the 22 young lads slogging away on a sloping and soggy pitch and to the news that Dzeko had saved our weekend (especially for those travelling from Cheadle as they were beaten comfortably 3-0 by ‘The Colls’). All that was missing was collecting the Pink from the newsagent on the way home.
So like a proper journalist I’ll gloss over what happened, copy and paste a couple of quotes and do my best to fudge my way through. The media chose to focus on us scraping a list minute 2-1 victory against moderate opposition instead of 10 men battling for 70 minutes and forcing 21 shots against a side with a 100% home record. The most important thing in the context of the season is the 3 points, but even more crucially we’ve gained 2 points on the equivalent fixture from last season as I fear that 89 points won’t be enough to win the league this year.
I’ll hold my hands up Mancini too about Wednesday as a had my own spot of ‘commentators curse’ when I was accosted outside the City Store on Market St and asked ‘Did I agree with Mancini’s rotation policy?’ When I stopped and realised that guy was trying to sell me something, my immortal words that made the airwaves were “no, he should always play the strongest team barring injury!” So what did Mancini, barring injury (well, Silva) he picked the strongest team and we were still beaten. Well, that’s putting it a little simplistic to say the least; we did well to contain them for the first 44 minutes of the first half. They were full of energy and they passed the ball quickly but until they’d scored they’d only had the one effort.
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Happy 1st Anniversary[/center]
The media crucified a change of system at the back but in truth our formation wasn’t the downfall of the performance; it was individual and collective defensive errors as the goals were a complete shambles; the first goal came from a cross on the right hand side and Clichy failed to come out and close down the cross (his biggest flaw as a defender) and then 3 defenders managed to get in each others way instead of closing down De Jong. Clichy was so far out of position he was still in the penalty area when the ball came in. The second goal was a defensive nightmare as no one tracked even the minor runs the Ajax forwards made and, worst of all; Clichy was not on the back post where he could easily have cleared the header. Finally for the third goal Kompany looked so off balance it was if he had ball bearings in his boots and was turned so easily it was almost embarrassing. The luck was truly not with Clichy, as the shot that looked as if it was going wide, flicked off the sole of his boot and passed Joe. To be fair to Gael he could hardly have left his foot out as he would have been crucified.
In terms of selection of system, Mancini will surely know that a new system will take time to bed in and he’s not wrong to attempt it as when it works it compensates for our natural width and pace in midfield but what he needs to work out is when is the correct time to use it and so far Europe is not the correct time to try it out. The main problem we’ve had in all 3 of the Champions League group phase is its felt like there have been the team has been cut in two with so many forward players isolated and the defensive players unable to the ball out of the first third and over the half way line.
[center]Swanselona[/center]
To recover from the European journey, FAMOUS LAST WORDS, we probably couldn’t ask for more accommodating opposition than Swansea. They got off to a flyer beating QPR away on the opening day with a couple of goal from Nathan Dyer and Michu (both in my fantasy team on the opening day!) and then won the next week giving everyone a re-think about their initial assessment of relegation candidates. However since September they’ve faced more physical and direct sides saw them lose to Villa, Everton and Stoke without scoring a goal. The defeat to Everton at home though, was particularly one sided, as they could not cope with Everton’s pressing high up the field and pressure on the ball; on the day it was 3 but it could have easily been more. In October they’ve recovered with a draw at home to Reading and victory against Everton. The key, though, is they’ve not kept a clean sheet in the league since August.
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[/center]The Guardian is rarely accurate with the starting line up by they will line up in their usual 433 and are unlikely to change their side much. The key performers will be their front 3 as they’ll look to get as much width into the game and aim crosses at the impressive Michu which was a significant weakness for us last season at times.
Their midfield of Ki, Britton and De Guzman looks a little lightweight and we should be able to cope although De Guzman gave Richards some real trouble for Hamburg in Germany a couple of years ago.
Their back four is pretty open and often careless with the ball; and as a Stockport supporting friend of mine often says; “I can’t believe Ashley Williams who was awful for us is turning out for a Premier League team.”
In goal they’ve Michel Vorm who has received high praise. Personally when he made his debut against us last year he looked immobile, un-athletic and too short to be a top class goalkeeper. As the season progressed he made some great saves but, in my opinion, ALL goalkeepers should at least be good shot stoppers.
[center]Manchester's only team[/center]
Where do we start this week? In midfield Silva, Garcia and Rodwell are all injured and Milner is suspended. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Yaya missed out after the tackle he was on the receiving end on Wednesday that drew blood. That doesn’t leave us with a lot of options in midfield
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Could this man make a miracle return?[/center]
I imagine the first instinct will be to field a half fit Yaya with Barry, with Trevor Sinclair and Nasri down the wings with a more natural 442. I would be tempted to use the opportunity to move Kompany out of the backline without dropping him and move him back into his original holding midfield position. I’d bring Nastasic into partner Joleon and swap Kolarov for Clichy and keep Richards on the other side. In goal, Cost……hahahaha
Up front is anyone’s guess; Dzeko will probably get the hook as he didn’t score on Wednesday night. Tevez and Aguero will probably be the preferred starting line up. Mario could potentially start as a natural winger ahead of Sinclair or could even go with a 433.
Prediction?
I was asked to give one last week, and the very reason I hate doing it came true as the game was completely turned on its head with the sending off. The team selection is key, if we get an early goal Swansea could be on the end of a thrashing as the game opens up. Most important is a clean sheet as well. So I’ll say 1 nil City.
P.S. Skyfall is excellent (which is why this is so late)
